So was he just being cagey or legit? It's not like he would just announce a Windows Phone 7-Tablet initiative in such an offhand way. Then again, MS has made some boneheaded moves in the past, and not taking advantage of WP7 + tablets could be one of them.

Update: In a video interview with Fortune, Ballmer clearly states they are going with Windows 7 and not Windows Phone 7 for tablets. Can Windows 7 answer the craving for instant-on, low power, low heat and fast mobile OS that consumers demand?

Ohh, it is somewhat shocking news, I think they should take some decisions according to this. They should also focus on tablets, i think tablets need some proper plans. Well as we know Microsoft is very nice company and it serves best to it's users.

The people spitting out "WP7 fail" after this E&D re-org are clueless. Why would the plans or code or goals change when the two people who are now taking over have been with the E&D division for some time already?!?!?! People don't seem to think this through fully before they post something.

On the tablet side, well WP7 is for "phones", the name says it all. But that doesn't mean the core, or the new version of CE can't be used with a metro UI on a future tablet. First things first though, and that's getting WP7 RTMd and out on phones. Tablets can be worked on in 2011. It's better for everyone if the WP7 devs don't get sidetracked with some tablet project right now.

I was looking foreword to a Windows Mobile Phone 7 on a tablet so I can take advance of the Office Web applications and skydrive. I tried to access Skydrive on my Droid Incredible and it will not work.

I look at tablets as netbooks and I want to do basically the same things - complete Internet access using MS applications, Exchange, eBook readers (Kindle, ePub non-DRM, etc), music, movies, simple games (Texas Hold'em, Sudoku, real Mahjong using Hong Kong or American rules).

Hopefully they will soon announce Windows Slate 7 with the Metro UI and compatible MarketPlace. Theoretically, a WS7 OS could have the same underpinnings as WP7 and because its a different sku, Ballmer's statement about WP7/Slates would hold true.

If they think they can take W7 asis and put it on a smallish touch device..its not going to work. I'm certain they know this but I fear they may leave it to OEMs to create their own UI frontends. Wasn't that one of the failings of WM? I'm a huge fan of the Metro UI. I think they would be insane not to provide a standard slate optimized UI based on Metro.

..just to add, this idea of a WS7 OS is probably more a matter of when then if. The thing is, it can't wait till 2011, it needs to come out on devices this year. So it would seem that WP7 would be the quickest route.

For there to be a Slate/tablet with WP7 you need WP7 to be done first. The OS hasn't RTM'd yet. Of course Ballmer isn't going to give out details about something big like a WP7 tablet at some small little event. Once WP7 RTMs and phones are talked about I expect we'll hear about a slate or two.

I think a more nebulous 'we'll see' type response would've been far more appropriate. If nothing else, it would give 'DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS' one more reason to give consideration to the WP7 platform as that would be yet another level of distribution.

Maybe we/I am too hard on the guy, but I really think they need a stronger leader without so many legacy ties to lead them into the next generation for the company. Their core markets continue to perform well for the time being and they have some promising developments in other area, but they just don't seem to be moving quickly enough. And between the success of Google and the continued rise of Apple (soon to eclipse MS in market cap) I can't help but wonder if he's soon going to come under a lot more pressure from the board.

RS I agree. They're trying to make updates and such faster for Windows 7 and they should do the same for Windows Phone 7. Look at Google with Android, they bring out updates every 3-4 months with some major stuff added. Even WebOS updated fairly often. Microsoft has to do this with Windows Phone 7.

Microsoft needs a leader that has good vision. Steve Ballmer has some good points but he doesn't have vision or he doesn't listen to people who do have vision. As much as I think Steve Jobs is an A** he has vision...the problem with Steve Jobs is he's so full of himself that he won't bend and look at over avenues and listen to what the people want. The Microsoft team might screw up the first or second time trying something but they at least listen to what the people want and get it right after a while. They need to listen to what the people want right off the bat and get it right the first time or at least the first time with a quick software update or two.